Flap unfolding device



W. E. SHELTON FLAP UNFOLDING DEVICE May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l Law w? fiFze/i'r-e 06W M, OM07 W @2263! (28 c/s Filed Dec. 17, 1959 y 1951 w. E. SHELTON 2,982,076

FLAP UNFOLDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 x 5 Z4 j5 j Z 4 ill! q/ 6 If "W Z 3 Z /I 224 llll J53 United States Patent 6 FLAP UNFOLDING nnvrcn William E. Shelton, Austin, Tex., assignor to Revenue Stamp Company, Austin, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Dec. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 860,122 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-381) This invention relates to a flap unfolding device, and more particularly, to a device for lifting and folding back the longitudinally extending flaps of cigarette cartons to expose the packages therein for the afiixing of revenue stamps.

An object of the present invention is-to provide a device of simple construction for effectively unfolding the unsealed outer and inner side flaps of a cigarette carton so that revenue stamps may be applied to the cigarette packages contained therein. Another object is to provide a blade constructed and oriented so as to force open the unsealed outer flaps and then the inner flaps of cigarette cartons advanced in continuous succession along a channel leading to a cigarette package stamping station. A

further object. is to provide a cigarette carton handling machine equipped with means for lifting and urging back the longitudinal side flaps of cigarette cartons .without damaging either the cartons or the cigarette packages contained therein.

Other objects will appear from the specification and drawings in which: 7

Figure l is a broken perspective view of a portion of a cigarette carton handling machine showing the structure of the present invention bearing against the outer closure flap of a carton at the commencement of a flap unfolding operation;

the flap-unfolding blade in contact with both closure flaps of a carton;

Figure is a broken side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 4.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a machine having a horizontal channel 11 through which cigarette cartons 12 are advanced in continuous succession. Each carton is carried in a rectangular frame or box 13 which is drawn through the channel by a power-driven chain 14 connected thereto. While only a single frame 13 is ice of the device disclosed in the commonly owned copending application of Forrest K. Foster, Serial No. 860,121, filed Dec. 17, 1959. While the flap opening device described in'the copending application forms no part of the present invention, the action of such a device in breaking the glue bond between the overlapping flaps and in shown in the drawings for clarity of illustration, it is to be understood that in actual operation the frames will be connected to the chain to form a closely spaced longitudinally extending series.

The channel is defined by side walls 15 and 16, wall 15 being supported by an upstanding frame member 17. Each carton is supported in tipped condition within its frame or carrier 13 so that the narrow longitudinal closure flaps are located on top of the carton. The cigarette packages 18 are thereby disposed in inverted condition within each carton so that after the flaps are fully opened the ends of the cigarette packages will be exposed for the aflixing of tax stamps or decals. After bending the outer flap 19 upwardly must necessarily precede the operation of the structure of the present invention. As brought out in the copending application, the flap opening device not only breaks the glue seal between the flaps but also bends or curls upwardly to a slight but definite extent the outer closure flap of each carton. Thus, the cartons arrive at the unfolding station shown best in Figures 1 through 3 with the front corners of their outer closure flaps 19 curving upwardly away from the inner closure flaps 20 disposed therebeneath.

The flap unfolding device of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 21 and comprises a blade 22 and a pair of arms 23 and 24." The blade forms an extension of arm 23 and is secured to the free end of that arm by-bolts 25 or by any other suitable means. As shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 5, arm 23 and blade 22 lie along a vertical plane which extends diagonally across channel 11. Specifically, the arm and attached blade extend rearwardly and inwardly from a lateral point adjacent the side 15 of the channel nearest the inner closure flap 20 of a carton to a point spaced inwardly from the opposite side 16 of the channel.

Arm 24 extends rearwardly from a point above wall 16 to a point above and in front of the free end of blade 22. The two arms may be formed from steel tubing or any other sturdy and rigid material and may, if desired, be bridged by an arched connecting portion 26. The front ends of the arms as well as the forwardly extending stem of the connecting portion may be rigidly secured to the machine in any suitable manner so that the rearwardly projecting arms 23 and 24 are substantially immovable.

The curved blade 22 is formed from a narrow strip of thin flexible sheet material such as steel or any other appropriate metallic or plastic material. As shown most clearly in Figure 5, the blade curves downwardly from its proximate attached end and then curves upwardly toward its free or remote end. The free end of the blade is blunt and is disposed well above the top surfaces of the packages 18 contained within a carton but below the front corner of an outer flap 19 curved upwardly by reason of the preceding flap opening operation. Therefore, as a carton is advanced along the channel toward the blade, the free end of the blade will travel over that portion of the carton normally covered by the outer flap when that flap is in sealed condition and will engage the under surface of the unsealed and opened outer flap to'urge that flap outwardly (Figure l).

Ordinarily, when the flexible blade is not in a state of tension, the lower sweep or curvature of that blade is disposed below the top of a carton carried within the channel. As a result, the blade must flex upwardly into the position shown in Figure 5 upon engagement with a carton. In effect, the blade is cammed upwardly when the smooth under surface of its free end portion engages the front edge of a carton and, as the carton continues to advance, the upwardly flexed blade rides over the 3 surfaces of the cigarette packages contained within the carton.

An important aspect of the present invention lies in the fact that blade 22 is twisted so that its rear longi tudinal edge 28 is lower than its front longitudinal edge 29 along that portion of the blade of lowest curvature. This factor, combined with the diagonal orientation of the blade and the downward force exerted by the blade upon a carton, causes the rear longitudinal edge of the blade to slip beneath the front corner of the inner flap 20 of an advancing carton (Figure 4). As the carton proceeds, flap 20 is guided and lifted by the blade and, upon contact with arm 23, is fully raised to expose the ends of the cigarette packages 18 (Figures 2 and 3).

It is believed from the foregoing that the structure of the present invention provides an exceedingly effective and relatively simple means for unfolding the outer and inner closure flaps of cigarette cartons to expose the packages contained therein. The flexure of blade 22 not only assures proper cooperative action between the blade and the inner flap of a carton but permits the blade to adjust itself to cartons of different height. The self-adjustment of the blade is of extreme importance since there is substantial dimensional variation between otherwise similar cigarette cartons, such variations often being considerably greater than the thickness of the sheet material from which the cartons are formed.

While in the foregoing I have disclosed an embodiment of the present invention in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of these details may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A flap unfolding device for lifting the unsealed longitudinal closure flaps of cigarette cartons moving in longitudinal succession comprising a curved blade formed from a narrow strip of thin flexible sheet material having longitudinally extending front and rear edges, said blade being mounted at its proximate end to a fixed supporting arm and extending along a vertical plane passing diagonally and rearwardly across the path of movement of a carton and toward the unsealed outer flap thereof, said blade curving downwardly from its proximate end and then upwardly towards its free end, the rear edge of said blade at the lower sweep of said curve being lower than the front edge thereof and in a normal unflexed state being 4, disposed beneath the top of an advancing carton, said free end of said blade terminating above said carton, whereby, as a carton is advanced into contact with the blade, said blade flexes upwardly to ride over said carton and said rear edge slips beneath the front corner of said inner closure fiap to lift said flap upwardly upon con tinued movement of said carton.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said blade is provided with a blunt free end adapted to bear against and raise the partially opened outer closure flap of said carton as said carton is advanced into contact with said blade.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said fixed supporting arm extends along substantially the same diagonal plane as said blade.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which a second arm extends toward said blade along a converging vertical plane for maintaining the outer closure flap of a carton in raised condition.

5. A device for unfolding the closure flaps of a carton advanced longitudinally along a channel with the flaps thereof disposed in unsealed condition along the top of the carton, comprising a flexible blade extending diagonally with reference to said channel, said blade having a downwardly curved lower portion adapted to ride upon a carton and to slip beneath the free front corner of a closure flap thereof, said blade being inclined upwardly and forwardly from said curved lower portion for lifting said closure flap as said carton continues to advance, and means for supporting said blade with the curved lower portion thereof normally disposed lower than the height of a carton carried within said channel when said blade is unflexed.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said blade is provided with an end portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said curved lower portion.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said end portion terminates in a blunt end disposed between the lateral limits of said channel and adapted to engage the under surface of a second closure flap opposing said first mentioned closure flap for lifting said second flap into a raised position. I

8. The structure of claim 5 in which said blade is provided with front and rear longitudinal edges, said rear longitudinal edge being disposed beneath said front edge along the curved lower portion of said blade.

No references cited. 

